Sexuality Programme

MOE's Sexuality Education in Schools

Sexuality education (SEd) aims to help our young understand the physiological, social and emotional changes they experience as they mature, develop healthy relationships with the opposite sex and to teach them how to make responsible choices. It is premised on the importance of the heterosexual married family as the basic unit of society, and respect for the values and beliefs of the different ethnic and religious communities on sexuality issues. 

The goals of SEd are to:

• provide accurate and adequate knowledge on human sexuality and the consequences of sexual activity so that pupils are able to make informed decisions;
• impart intra- and inter-personal skills of problem-solving, decision-making and effective communication so that pupils are able to build responsible and rewarding relationships; and
• inculcate positive values and attitudes of sexuality so that pupils develop a respect for themselves and others as sexual beings, in line with the national value of the family as the basic unit of society. 

The key messages of SEd are:

• Build healthy futures for yourself, family and society.
• Healthy relationships based on love and respect are the foundation for strong families.
• Casual sex can lead to unwanted pregnancies, STIs/HIV and AIDS which can harm and hurt your loved ones.

Overview of SJI’s Sexuality Education Programme for 2009

Sexuality education in SJI is taught in the formal curriculum under four main themes: Human Development, Interpersonal Relationships, Sexual Health and Behaviour, and Societal Influences.

The curricular subjects in which topics on sexuality are incorporated include

• Science
• Religious and Moral Education
• Personal and Social Education

The values and attitudes of our youth towards sexuality are increasingly being shaped by their peers, exposure to the media, popular culture and the internet. Adolescence is a complex stage in life as the adolescent attempts to find his/her own identity and often struggles with new social relationships. The period of middle adolescence (generally from 15 – 17 years old) can be a turbulent period for adolescents.

The gap between physical and emotional/cognitive maturity may result in a tendency to act on impulse, experiment with various activities (including sexual activities), sometimes without understanding the unpleasant consequences that may arise from such experimentation. The need for peer acceptance can be overwhelmingly strong, and hinder one’s ability to act responsibly. Given the pressures faced by the middle adolescent from within themselves and from peers, it is important to build a strong sense of self-worth, personal convictions and an understanding of the possible consequences of sexual behaviour.
 
At SJI, the Human Sexuality programme is crafted to suit the needs our students and conducted by our teachers as part of the Religious and Moral Education Programme (RME). The MOE’s Growing Years (GY) Series, “The Teenage Years” and “Sense & Sexuality” packages are incorporated into the programme.  Through the programme our students will have the opportunity to develop a positive self esteem, build their character, expand their understanding and repertoire of skills to deal with various issues related to sexuality, which are of prime concern at this age.

	Overview of MOE Sexuality Programme 2009
	SJI Human Sexuality Programme 2009
	Parents Opt-out form : Revised Growing Years Series
	Parents Opt-out form : Breaking Down Barriers Programme (Health Promotion Board)